Quality Heating & Air Conditioning Service & Repair in Colorado Springs

Jim Steward is the founder of HVAC Solutions. Jim has been in the HVAC industry in Colorado for over 40 years. He began his career with his family's heating business, "GD Steward," in Rocky Ford, Colorado. He eventually moved to Colorado Springs and started his own company called JD Steward Air Conditioning, Inc in 1979 (which has since been sold). HVAC Solutions is the only company currently run and owned by Jim Steward.

Jim learned to fly in 1962 and worked as a flight instructor for several years at the Colorado Springs Airport. He also towed the gliders and hauled the skydivers at the Air Force Academy. He was always interested in aerobatics but didn’t have an airplane that was capable, so he decided to build one. He started construction of the Skybolt in the early 1970’s and flew the airplane the first time on September 21, 2001. The plane, which was built from scratch, took 30 long years to build. Building the plane was a family project, and Jim’s son, Mark, installed the fabric covering on the plane and painted it.

Jim and Mark flew the Skybolt to Oshkosh, Wisconsin, in 2002, and they won the outstanding workmanship award for "built-from-scratch" airplanes that year. The plane has been back to Oshkosh once since then and is always a show stopper.

After starting HVAC Solutions in 2003, Jim was looking for a new icon for the new business. He thought that the plane, which was such a big part of his life, would make a good icon. He felt it would set the company apart form other HVAC companies.

Today Jim flies the Skybolt every chance he gets, but he has to divide his time with Mark, who is flying the airplane in aerobatic competition to this day.